Software

Our current, tech-obsessed world demands a storage solution for your multimedia data, the most convenient being cloud-based storage which you can access from anywhere. Most cloud-based storage services charge a monthly fee, which, over time, adds up to quite a fee.
Those of you sick of subscription fees need a storage solution that requires a single payment for a lifetime of access. More...

App updates are awesome. Burning mobile data to download them isn't.
There aren't many people who turn off automatic app updates as soon as they get a new phone, but many who do say the biggest reason is data usage. If you only have 4GB of data in a month, losing 200 megabytes every month to seemingly-constant Instagram and Facebook updates is a waste of bandwidth. At the same time, not updating...

Manually jump to the latest software right now.
As we tip over to December we're still waiting for an official OTA update to Android 7.0 Nougat on the OnePlus 3, but the most anxious among us can now be the first to see what OnePlus has done with Nougat by installing the latest Open Beta 8 software. Because of the big jump this latest beta will not arrive over the air for current Open Beta users...

The second and final Android 7.1 Developer Preview is here.
Just a couple days over a month since the first Android 7.1 Developer Preview was released, we now have Developer Preview 2 available for Nexus phones and tablets to get a near-final taste of the latest software. Those who have enrolled in the Android Beta Program for their compatible device — which now includes the Nexus 9 — will...

Keeping your passwords safe and synced is just as important on a Chromebook.
Password manager Enpass has just released an update to include complete support for Chromebooks, following a couple of initial teasers as the Google Play Store started rolling out to Chrome OS. With the latest update you can install Enpass on your Chromebook and have access to all of your secure passwords and...

Samsung wants to give you an early look at Nougat.
If you have a Galaxy S7 or S7 edge, you can sign up for the Galaxy Beta Program and get an early look at Samsung's latest software. All it takes is installing an app, registering and then receiving an update to check out Android 7.0 Nougat right on your Galaxy phone. Here's how you get it done.

See the changes in Android 7.1 straight from the people who built it.
Android 7.1 is on the Google Pixel and the Android Beta Program can install the Developer Preview on the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, and Pixel C right now. But that means most phones aren't running it, and most of us can't play with it. We've talked about the highlights — support for round icons, image keyboards (emojis FTW) and app...

G5 owners will soon have access to the same improved software we see on the V20.
LG will start rolling out its Android 7.0 Nougat update to LG G5 owners in its home country of South Korea today, kicking off a process that will eventually update all G5s around the world in the coming weeks. The announcement comes the same day that Google's numbers show just 0.3% of Android devices have Nougat,...

This sure would be handy.
Grabbing a screenshot and cropping it is no big deal, but how cool would it be to just screenshot what you needed on your phone and not bother with the editing? A little-known feature on Google's Pixel C does exactly that, but you can only access it with the keyboard attached. Pressing Control+Search+Shift+S on the keyboard makes the screen go dark, and when you drag...

Those getting antsy for the latest software can now apply the latest Google software updates manually.
Factory images with the latest November security patch built on Android 7.1 for the both the Pixel and Pixel XL are now available, as are the images with the same security patch with Android 7.0 for the Pixel C and latest Nexuses (6P, 5X, 6, 9, 9 (LTE) and Player). For those who don't need the...

Assistant needs to grow fast for Google Home to be great.
Google has made it quite clear that Assistant is the future. It's in every aspect of your phone, ready to jump into a conversation at a moment's notice, and soon will occupy a physical space in your house thanks to Google Home. This is the evolution of so many different things Google has tried over the years, and the initial response to...

A start to finish primer on embedded Android from people who do it professionally is a must read for anyone who likes to roll up their sleeves and dig into things.
Android was designed for mobile devices, but it's pretty scalable and actually not very difficult to get it to run on a long list of mobile and non-mobile embedded things. Of course, the difficulty is relative so you'll need to be...

Choosing a specific career in the field of app development, web design, and 3D-animation can be tough — each is a growing field with high demand for specialists, and you have many interests. What if you want to learn them all? How can you afford the education needed for each career, and where will you find the time to go back to school?
Stone River Academy might be the answer you're looking for...

This guest post was written by Mary Liz McCurdy, Health & Fitness Lead at Google Play.
It's an exciting time to be a health and fitness app developer. With people shelling out on fitness more than ever before, we're seeing record high levels of gym memberships and attendance, the rise of boutique fitness, and an emphasis on connected devices.

Better late than never — Nougat is here.
Ah, our (somewhat) beloved Shamu — the Nexus 6. Seemingly forgotten with the launch of Nougat to other Nexuses over five weeks ago, owners of the two-year-old Nexus 6 have been waiting for an update. Not only has Google posted an Android 7.0 Nougat factory image and a flashable OTA file, but we've received plenty of notes saying that Nexus 6s are...

A large majority of our life resides in our computers these days. From personal files to pictures, bank statements and much more, so you should be paying attention to how secure all of it is. Unfortunately, it isn't always easy to ensure your computer is safe, or know that you are doing the most you can to protect yourself, and learning how can be expensive.
Luckily, it doesn't need to cost a...

Android's on-screen buttons get a big overhaul as part of the new Google UI on the Pixel phones. So let's take a look at what's new, and revisit what's come before.
So the first proper render of one of the new Google Pixel phones has leaked out, and with it we're getting a look at some new UI tweaks in that device's software. The Pixel phones put the Google brand front and center, and so we're...

What are the best Chrome extensions I should be using?
The amount of time most people spend browsing the internet continues to rise each year, and Google's Chrome browser attempts to be the most comfortable and versatile browser out there. To aid in its quest, Google allows for developers to market small software extensions that modify and (in most cases) ameliorate your browsing experience....

Google has broken the security patches down even further to make it easier for manufacturers.
For more than a year now, Google has been addressing security on Android through monthly updates. These updates are provided to Google's partners 30 days before being released to Nexus, Pixel, and Android One hardware in hopes that all of Android can be more secure every month. Despite these efforts,...

Consider this your Oculus Rift starter kit.
There's a lot going on in the Oculus Store, which is the primary place you get games for your Rift headset. Titles range wildly when it comes to price and description, due in no small part to Oculus pulling content that was originally made for the Samsung Gear VR into the store so you can experience it in a higher resolution. It's a lot to take in,...